Display-box.



F. G. MERRITT.

DISPLAY BOX. APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 7, 190a.

Patented May 25,1909.

2- BHEBTS-BHBET 1.

wuznlioz TH: am!!! PETERS cm, wpsnmmn, nc.

P; G. MERRIT'I'.

DISPLAY BOX. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 190a.

Patented May 25, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. I

' partially raised in dotted lines.

unrrn snares PATENT @FFTQE.

DISPLAY-BOX.

Application filed August *7, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FUnBUsH G. MERRITT, of Brockport, in the county ofMonroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Display-Boxes, which improvement is fully set forth in the follow ingspecification and shown in the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in displayboxes of that general character in which are provided a plurality ofdrawers or other receptacles and means for simultaneously actuating themto bring them into position for the better display of the goods, gardenseeds, or whatever the contents of the receptacles may be.

The present invention has for its objects among others to provide asimple and convenient display box of this general nature in which theactuating mechanism is designed not only to operate the drawers orreceptacles but to temporarily lock the receptacles against descendingor closing by their own weight. The mechanism is so constructed that apressure downward upon the drawers or receptacles can not close themexcept by violence or breaking; at the same time they descend with theutmost ease by taking hold of the cover and bringing it toward a closedposition. A lifting arm is connected with the cover and with the drawersin such a manner as to bring about this action.

I aim also at improvements in the details of the actuating mechanismwhereby the drawers or receptacles have no movement till the lifting armassumes a predetermined position with relation to the cover after iwhich they act as one.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear,and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by theappended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon, form a part ofthis specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of adisplay box embodying my present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical crosssection through the box with the cover standing in a vertical position.Fig. 3 is a similar view in which the cover is shown in closed positionby full lines and Fig. 4 is a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1909.

Serial No. 447,455.

perspective detail, of the arm which connects the lifting arm with thedrawers or receptacles. Fig. 5 is a detail of one of the corner piecesremoved showing portions of the links pivotally connected therewith.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates a box of any suitable dimensionsadapted to contain any desired number of drawers or receptacles, andcomprising a bottom, a back, a front, two ends and a cover. These ofthemselves, separately considered, may be of any of the well known formsof con struction. The cover 2 is hinged to the back by hinges 3 in thewell known way, as seen clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. Vi ithin the box are aplurality of drawers or receptacles 4, in this instance shown as threein number, although it will be understood that this number is notessential and may be varied as circumstances may require. T hese drawersor receptacles 4 are shown as sub divided by vertical partitions 5, thenumber ofdivisions also being a matter dependent upon the needs or usesto which the box is to be put. In the present instance I have chosen torepresent a box designed more particularly for the display of seeds. Thedrawers or receptacles are of all the same height but designed to bethrown, by the peculiar mechanism soon to be described, into differentvertical positions so that they will stand each elevated a little abovethe other for the better display of the contents of the receptacles. Thedrawers 4 are shown as having their ends extended above the backs andfronts, but this is not absolutely necessary although it is desirablefor the purpose of better attachment of the actuating )arts.

The lifting and actuating mechanism sing the same at each end of the boxa description of one end will suffice for both, and attention is nowdirected to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 in which it will be seen that 5 is a piecefixed within the box at the front edge and to this piece are pivotallyconnected as at 6 and 7 one end of the links 8 and 9. The link 9connects the front drawer and the adjacent one. It is pivotally attachedas at 10 to the front drawer and pivotally attached at its other end asat 11 to the next adjacent or middle drawer. Tlie link 8 is pivotallyattached as at 12 to the front drawer, is pivotally at tached as at 13to the second drawer, and is further pivotally attached at its other endas at 1 1 to the rear drawer. The end of the link 8 which is pivoted tothe rear drawer is provided with a longitudinal slot 15 receiving thepivot pin so that the said link may have limited longitudinal slidingmovement upon the said pin as the drawers move upward and downward. Thethree links 8, 9 and the link 16 which connects the rear drawer and themiddle one are parallel as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. The link 16 ispivotally connected at one end as at 17 with the rear drawer and at itsother end as at 18 to the middle drawer. On the pivot 18 is pivoted atone end a pivot link 19 which is shown as offset at 20 so as to allow itto pass the links 8 and 9 as the cover is closed and the drawers broughtinto their lowermost position. Pivotally attached to this pivot link ata point between the ends of the latter is an operating arm 21, the pivot22 thereof being in the offset portion of the pivot link. This operatingarm has its other end pivotally attached as at 23 to a bracket 24secured to the cover 2 of the box as seen clearly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.As seen best in Fig. 2 the larger end of the arm 21 is pivoted to thebracket 24 at one side of the middle line and in such a manner that whenthe cover is raised toward a vertical position the lower corner of thearm abuts squarely against the under face of the cover as seen in Fig.3. When the two parts take this position the cover and the armtemporarily constitute a single piece, as it were, both together movingas a simple or single bent lever in the matter of lifting the drawers.There is no motion of the drawers till the cover and said arm assume thecharacter of a bent lever, in which position they are seen in Fig. 3. 25is a lug or pin or the like projecting from the side of the pivot linkin position to meet and bear against the under edge of the arm 21 which.prevents the cover from tipping over too far back. When the pin or lugthus stops the parts the pivot points 23, 22 and 18 are not in exactline, the pivot 22 being a little below the line connecting the pivots23 and 18. This fact of the pivot 22 being below a straight line oiningthe pivots 23 and 18 admits of the cover being swung forward when it iswished to close the cover of the box. If these three pivots werearranged exactly in line the cover would be locked open and could not beclosed readily. It is by this means and on this account that the coveralthough moderately locked open so to speak may yet be readily closedwhen desired, but at the same time no weight upon the drawers will causethem to descend. When the corner of the arm 21 is resting against thecover the arm and cover both move together upon the hinges as a pivot;otherwise the arm moves upon the pivot 23. The moment the cover isforced forward, the pressure is transferred from the end of the arm 21to the pivot 23, the joint 22 is forced downward and the cover closedand the drawers brought to their lowermost position.

Modifications in detail may be resorted to without departing from thespirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What is claimed as new is 1. In a display box, a series of receptacles,and means comprising jointed members for raising and lowering saidreceptacles simultaneously, and a cover pivotally connected with saidmeans and, when in closed position, out of contact with a lateralportion on the adjacent end of a member of said means but engageabletherewith as the cover is opened.

2. In a display box, a series of receptacles, means for simultaneouslyraising said receptacles and to temporarily lock them against descendingby their own weight, said means being pivotally connected with the coverof the box and with an end of one of its members normally out of contactwith the under side of said cover, and a link having a lateral portionwith which said member coacts as the cover reaches its open position.

3. In a display box, a series of receptacles, means pivotally connectedwith the receptacles for simultaneously raising them, said meansembodying a link having a lateral member and an arm pivotally connectedwith the said link and with the cover and adapted for contact with saidlateral mem ber.

4. In a display box, a series of receptacles, I

one end and movable for a portion of its distance with its end out ofcontact with the cover and then its end directly engageable with thecover to raise the receptacles in the further movement of'said member.

6. In a display box, a series of receptacles,

pivoted means forming connections between said receptacles, meansmounted on the pivot of one of said connections, and means having oneend eccentrically pivoted at one end and 7 its other end connected withsaid last-named means with its end mounted for direct engagement withthe cover to cause the cover and means to first move together upon thehinges of the cover as a pivot and cause the cover and. said means tomove as a unit.

7. In a display box, a series of receptacles,

means for moving them together consisting of links arranged parallelwith each other and connecting said receptacles, a fixed support for oneend of a pair of said links, a cover, and means pivotally connected withsaid cover and with the pivot of one of the links for causing thereceptacles to be raised simultaneously by the movement of the cover,the member connecting the means connected with the cover and theadjacent link having a lateral portion with which the means con nectedvwith the cover is engageable to temporarily lock the parts in theirraised position.

8. In a display box, a series of receptacles, a link pivotally connectedwith two of the receptacles, links pivotally connecting the end. andintermediate receptacles, a member connected with the uppermost linkhaving a lateral portion, a cover, and a pivotal mem ber connecting thecover with said member intermediate its ends and having one end thereofengageable with the cover in one po sition only.

9. In a display box, a series of receptacles mounted for simultaneousmovement, a cover and means pivotally connected with the cover andreceptacles to be acted upon by the weight of the receptacles when intheir elevated position to temporarily lock the receptacles in suchposition, said means embodying an arm eccentrically pivotally connectedwith the cover at one end, whereby said. end during a portion of themovement of the cover is out of engagement with the under side thereof,and means limiting the downward movement of said arm.

10. In a display box, a series of receptacles mounted for simultaneousmovement, a hinged cover, an arm eccentrically pivoted to the cover andmeans pivotally connected with said arm and with one of the receptaclesfor cooperation with said arm to cause the said means and arm to movetogether upon the hinges of the cover as a pivot when the corner of thearm bears against the cover and allowing the arm at other times to moveupon its pivotal connection with the cover.

1] In a display box, a series of receptacles mounted for simultaneousmovement, a

hinged cover, an arm eccentrically pivoted to the cover and meanspivotally connected with said arm and with one of the receptacles forcooperation with said arm to cause the said means and arm to movetogether upon the hinges of the cover as a pivot when the corner of thearm bears against the cover and allowing the arm at other times to moveupon its pivotal connection with the cover, the end of said arm adjacentthe cover being at times out of engagement with the under side of thecover.

12. In a display box, a series of receptacles mounted and connected tomove together, a hinged cover, an arm eccentrically pivoted to the coverand a member pivotally connected with said arm and. with one oi" thereceptacles and having a lateral lug for engagement with the undersideof said arm.

13. In a display box, a series of receptacles mounted to move together,a hinged cover and means having one end. eccentrically pivoted to thecover and the other end connected with one of the receptacles andcooperating with the weight of the receptacles and the movement of thecover to raise the receptacles and lock them. in raised position said.means embodying an arm pivotally connected with the cover at one end,which end is during a portion of the movement of the cover out ofengagement with the under side thereof.

14. In a display box, a series of receptacles, a cover, and pivotalmeans eccentrically connected with the cover and movable for a portionof its movement without actuating the receptacles, then with the coverto act to raise the receptacles and then by the weight of thereceptacles to lock the cover in raised position.

15. In a display box, a series of receptacles, means connecting themtogether for simultaneous movement, a link connected with one of saidreceptacles and with the adjacent receptacle, a link pivotally mountedon the pivotal connection between said link and the second receptacle, acover and an arm pivotally connected with the last-nam ed link andeccentrically pivoted to the under side of the cover.

16. In a display box, a series of receptacles, means connecting themtogether for simultaneous movement, a link connected with one of saidreceptacles and with the adjacent receptacle, a link pivotally mountedon the pivotal connection between said link and the second. receptacle,a cover and an arm pivotally connected with the last-named link andeccentrically pivoted to the under side of the cover, the last-namedlink being provided with a lateral portion extending under said armadjacent its connection with said link.

17. In a display box, a series of receptacles, means connecting themtogether for simultaneous movement, a link connected with one of saidreceptacles and with the adjacent receptacle, a link pivotally mountedon the pivotal connection between said link and the second receptacle, acover and an arm pivotally connected with the lastnamed link andeccentrically pivoted to the under side of the cover, the last-namedlink being oliset near its connection with said arm.

18. In a display box, a series of receptacles, means connecting themtogether for si multaneous movement, a link connected with one of saidrece tacles and with the adjacent receptacle, a ink pivotally mounted onthe pivotal connection between said link and the second receptacle, acover and an arm pivotally connected with the last-named i said link,the last-named link being offset near its connection with said arm.

19. In a display box, a series of receptacles mounted for simultaneousmovement, a cover pivotally mounted, and connections between one of saidreceptacles and the cover and embodyin means whereby the cover and saidconnections move together with the hinges of the cover as a pivot andment of the receptacles when the cover is in its open position.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of August,1908, in the 20 presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FURBUSH G. MERRITT.

WVitnesses:

E. B. WHrrMoRE, A. M. WHITMORE.

